Derek

Carr

“I wouldn’t take anything less to do this. It’s hard enough putting our bodies through it. And you’re trying to get everything you can for your family for it,” Carr added. Carr’s offseason status is an interesting one because the state of his wrist could mean a lot for the Saints. If he cannot pass a physical, his $30 million salary is guaranteed for injury. The Saints, perpetually over the cap, will likely have to restructure his deal to reduce his cap hit of $51.458 million. The Saints could also throw a post-June 1 designation on a release to spread his dead money hit if they so choose. That decision is one that awaits the next head coach of the Saints, whoever that may be.

It could make sense for the Saints to cut Carr after June 1st, when his cap savings jump from $1.326 million to $30 million but the pass-catching corps already has its core players in place. The situation could encourage the Saints to push back the rebuilding process another year. Only time will tell.

Carr concludes the second season of his four-year contract having played just 10 games, thanks to a Week 5 oblique strain and a Week 14 injury sequence resulting in both a hand injury and a concussion. On the plus side, his five interceptions technically qualify as the lowest single-season total of his career. Carr’s fantasy performance was fraught with volatile results, opening as the QB6 and QB3 before finishing QB20 or worse in his next four. On the year, Carr completed 189-of-279 passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed 17 times for 71 yards and one touchdown. Pending good health, the Saints should enter 2025 with a moderately talented passing attack so Carr has a real chance to bounce back. If not, the team can save $32.78 million by cutting him after that.

It’s looking plausible — maybe even likely — that Carr is going to miss another game to end a disastrous season for the Saints. If the 33-year-old veteran does miss that Week 18 game against the Buccaneers it’ll be Spencer Rattler getting another start.

The Saints would surely love to get Carr back for the Saints’ final 2024 game but his bothersome hand injury continues to keep him sidelined. Carr would be a volatile QB2 against a blitz-happy Buccaneers defense in Week 18. Fantasy managers should plan to be without him for now though.

According to Rizzi, Carr was held out of Week 17 after they determined he wasn’t far enough in his recovery to play when they ran simulated game situations. Carr suffered a nasty hand injury in the Saints Week 14 win over the Giants and has been sidelined ever since. While the team continues to treat his situation as one he could play through, there’s little reason for the team to put him on the field given their 5-11 record and the fact Week 18’s game is little more than a formality at this point. If he can’t start, Spencer Rattler would most likely get the nod in the season finale. Rattler threw for 218-1-2 against the Raiders and won’t be on the fantasy radar for anyone still playing out the final week.

Carr is almost assuredly going to miss the Week 17 game against the Raiders, his former team. The means Spencer Rattler is going to make the start, and it’s a completely untenable fantasy situation for any New Orleans offensive player.

Rizzi said that he was “hoping” Carr would be able to go this week, and that they’ll simulate what a game would be like for him and see how Carr responds. However, the revealing answer was when he told reporters that Rattler will take reps with the 1s until Carr is able to come back. That makes it sound like there’s no firm plan for Carr to be back just yet. Rattler will remain a bottom barrel superflex bench player in Carr’s absence, though a game against the Raiders has the potential to get him to a borderline superflex QB2.

That makes all primary skill position starters except tight end Juwan Johnson out for the Saints in Week 16, with Rashid Shaheed and Taysom Hill done of the season and Chris Olave yet to make it back from a devastating concussion. Kendre Miller should see increased run in the backfield in the absence of Kamara.

The Saints limp towards the end of the regular season in what has developed into a lost year after starting the season with the second most points scored through two games in league history. They will no trudge forward without the remaining two primary offensive pieces after losing Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill to injuries earlier this season. Wide receiver Bub Means was also ruled out by the team with an ankle injury while Marquez Valdes-Scantling is listed as questionable after failing to practice all week.